Safeco Insurance supports Best Practices with their staff training time and financial contributions," Mr. Rusbuldt said. "They also include Best Practices materials in agent education and business consulting and strongly believe the program builds better, powerful independent agents."

Educational efforts also played a major role in St. Paul Travelers, based in St. Paul, Minn., receiving its fifth consecutive Best Practices Award.

"St. Paul Travelers has educated hundreds of agencies through workshops, seminars, agency/company planning sessions, and 'Travelers Today,' an electronic newsletter," said Mr. Rusbuldt.

MetLife Auto & Home, based in Warwick, R.I., was awarded its second consecutive Best Practices Award for its use of Best Practices tools during its National Agency Partnership & Sales Seminars, in which top agency personnel are brought in for a week-long training period, IIABA said.

"MetLife Auto & Home supports Best Practices by striving to inform all of their agents on the availability and benefits of the program," commented Mr. Rusbuldt.

Zurich North America-Small Business was presented its award, IIABA said, for its efforts to reach out to agents.

"We honor Zurich North America-Small Business for its incredible support of Best Practices by reaching out to thousands of agency representatives through more than 200 sales workshops across the country," Mr. Rusbuldt said. "Its support of the program runs from its field representatives to its top executives."